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AR RAMADI, Iraq (March 12, 2005) - Rex, a three-year-old Belgium Malonois, sits after picking up the scent of explosive residual, which is what he's trained to detect. His handler, 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Marshall S. Spring from Ashland, Oregon, a military dog handler with Operation Force Protection, I Marine Expeditionary Force, does a visual inspection. Sergeant Christopher L. Olinger, Air Force Tech Sgt. Robert P. Hansen and Spring, military dog handlers and their canines, Jack, Nero and Rex, can be seen searching vehicles at the three vehicle check points just outside the Hurricane Point camp's perimeter. The six are here supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom while attached to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. They each do between 40 and 50 random searches a day in an effort to detect and stop improvised explosive devices and vehicle born IEDs from being delivered and doing harm. They are the Marine Corps' first line of defense against insurgents bringing explosives and materials to make explosives into the southern part of the city. (Official United States Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan) - AR RAMADI, Iraq (March 12, 2005) - Rex, a three-year-old Belgium Malonois, sits after picking up the scent of explosive residual, which is what he's trained to detect. His handler, 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Marshall S. Spring from Ashland, Oregon, a military dog handler with Operation Force Protection, I Marine Expeditionary Force, does a visual inspection. Sergeant Christopher L. Olinger, Air Force Tech Sgt. Robert P. Hansen and Spring, military dog handlers and their canines, Jack, Nero and Rex, can be seen searching vehicles at the three vehicle check points just outside the Hurricane Point camp's perimeter. The six are here supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom while attached to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. They each do between 40 and 50 random searches a day in an effort to detect and stop improvised explosive devices and vehicle born IEDs from being delivered and doing harm. They are the Marine Corps' first line of defense against insurgents bringing explosives and materials to make explosives into the southern part of the city. (Official United States Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan)

CAMP ABU GHURAYB, IRAQ -- Lance Cpl. Amarinder Grewal, a Sterling Heights, Mich., native, patrols through the muddy grounds in Nasser Wa Saalam. Along with his fellow Marines, Grewal did not let the effects of nature stop him from doing his job. Official US Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Athanasios Genos. - CAMP ABU GHURAYB, IRAQ -- Lance Cpl. Amarinder Grewal, a Sterling Heights, Mich., native, patrols through the muddy grounds in Nasser Wa Saalam. Along with his fellow Marines, Grewal did not let the effects of nature stop him from doing his job. Official US Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Athanasios Genos.

HURRICANE POINT, Ar Ramadi, Iraq (March 11, 2005) - Master Sgt. Roland Salinas (left), 42, of San Antonio, Texas and the operations chief, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, and Sgt. Maj. Charles D. Blumenberg Jr.(far right), 42, of Chiefland, Fla., and the infantry battalion's sergeant major, stand next to their commanding officer, Lt. Col. Eric M. Smith, 39, of Plano, Texas, and display their reenlistment certificates. The two senior-enlist Marines each swore to devote three more years to the Corps during a reenlistment ceremony here. Combined, they have almost a half-century of dedicated service to the Marine Corps. (Official United States Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan) - HURRICANE POINT, Ar Ramadi, Iraq (March 11, 2005) - Master Sgt. Roland Salinas (left), 42, of San Antonio, Texas and the operations chief, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, and Sgt. Maj. Charles D. Blumenberg Jr.(far right), 42, of Chiefland, Fla., and the infantry battalion's sergeant major, stand next to their commanding officer, Lt. Col. Eric M. Smith, 39, of Plano, Texas, and display their reenlistment certificates. The two senior-enlist Marines each swore to devote three more years to the Corps during a reenlistment ceremony here. Combined, they have almost a half-century of dedicated service to the Marine Corps. (Official United States Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan)

CAMP ABU GHURAYB, IRAQ – Sergeant Winston T. Daley, a Bridgeport, Conn., native, stands next to the flooded area, where one day before was dry and dusty. Daley and his squad patrolled in Nasser Wa Saalam despite the mud and rain. Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Athanasios L. Genos. - CAMP ABU GHURAYB, IRAQ – Sergeant Winston T. Daley, a Bridgeport, Conn., native, stands next to the flooded area, where one day before was dry and dusty. Daley and his squad patrolled in Nasser Wa Saalam despite the mud and rain. Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Athanasios L. Genos.

CAMP AL QAIM, IRAQ (March 9, 2005)- Lt. Col. Timothy S. Mundy (left), commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment and Lt. Col. Christopher Woodridge (right), commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment shake hands to signify the passing of command during a Ceremony here March 9. The ceremony officially marked Marines of 3rd Battalion, 2d Marines assuming control of the region around Al Qaim from 1st Battalion, 7th Marines after their successful seven-month tour. Official U. S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher G. Graham (RELEASED) - CAMP AL QAIM, IRAQ (March 9, 2005)- Lt. Col. Timothy S. Mundy (left), commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment and Lt. Col. Christopher Woodridge (right), commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment shake hands to signify the passing of command during a Ceremony here March 9. The ceremony officially marked Marines of 3rd Battalion, 2d Marines assuming control of the region around Al Qaim from 1st Battalion, 7th Marines after their successful seven-month tour. Official U. S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher G. Graham (RELEASED)

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq -- Lieutenant Gen. Wallace C. Gregson, commanding general, Marine Forces Pacific, visits with personnel at the 2nd Marine Division command operations center, March, 22. Gregson visited Marines on several bases in the Al Anbar Province. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Stephen D'Alessio (RELEASED) - CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq -- Lieutenant Gen. Wallace C. Gregson, commanding general, Marine Forces Pacific, visits with personnel at the 2nd Marine Division command operations center, March, 22. Gregson visited Marines on several bases in the Al Anbar Province. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Stephen D'Alessio (RELEASED)

CAMP FALLUJAH, IRAQ – Lance Cpl. Vicente Figueroa, the battalion commander’s machine gunner, sits atop the vehicle in the turret with his M240G medium machine gun. - CAMP FALLUJAH, IRAQ – Lance Cpl. Vicente Figueroa, the battalion commander’s machine gunner, sits atop the vehicle in the turret with his M240G medium machine gun.

Corporal Steven Bruce Ames II, a 22-year-old Willard Ohio native and personnel administration non-commissioned officer, delivers laundry to the staff billeting here, March 8. Ames recently arrived here to serve his country in the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Stephen D'Alessio (RELEASED) - Corporal Steven Bruce Ames II, a 22-year-old Willard Ohio native and personnel administration non-commissioned officer, delivers laundry to the staff billeting here, March 8. Ames recently arrived here to serve his country in the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Stephen D'Alessio (RELEASED)